Holiday weekend filled with festivities

Published 1:00 am, Friday, May 26, 2006

BROOKFIELD - Hundreds of residents are expected to fill Brookfield Center this weekend to participate in what is likely the town's most festive event of the year.

The
Brookfield Arts Commission
will hold the annual International Cultural Festival on Saturday at the bandshell by Town Hall. The event will feature a variety of food, music and games.
On Sunday, the
Brookfield Museum
and
Historical Society
will hold the annual Strawberry Festival, which will feature a display of antique cars and the sounds of the
Billy Michael
jazz band.
This year, festival-goers also can view artwork by
Lauren Lindroth
, a photography major at
Western State Connecticut University
.
The museum has held the event for more than 20 years, serving more than 400 strawberry shortcakes each year.
The event is a fundraiser for the museum located at 165 Whisconier Road. All proceeds go to upcoming exhibits, said

Don Winkley
, a member of the museum board.
"It's a very modest fund-raiser, but we think it enhances the celebration of the Memorial Day parade," he said.
The town's annual parade, held by the
Brookfield Lions Club
and the
Brookfield Veterans of Foreign Wars
, will feature more than 50 groups.
Hundreds of flag-waving spectators will line the parade route between
Brookfield High School and Center School
, cheering an array of marching units ranging from veteran's organizations to schoolchildren to civic groups.
Each year, the town stops the parade halfway through the event at Williams Park to remember men and women who died in American wars.
Last year, Brookfield remembered one of its own. Former Brookfield resident U.S. Marine Lance Cpl.

John T. Schmidt III
died May 11, 2005, from wounds he suffered in Iraq. Before his death, Schmidt was awarded the Purple Heart.
Two to three helicopters also are scheduled to fly over the parade en route to Williams Park.
"Turnout is always good," said
Bob Rascona
, Lions Club member.

The International Cultural Festival will be from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Brookfield Town Hall band shell.
The Strawberry Festival will be from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Brookfield Museum and Historical Society.
The town's Memorial Day parade begins Sunday at 2 p.m. Parade viewing is along Long Meadow Hill Road and Routes 25 and 133. Admission to all events is free.